Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by the legendary master Katsushika Hokusai, representing poem number five by Sarumaru Dayu from the famous anthology 'Hyakunin Isshu'. The scene depicts rustic villagers gathering autumn leaves and brushwood in a mountainous landscape, with a tiny silhouette of a stag and doe standing on a distant hill.
Story
Published around 1835, this print translates a classical courtly poem about hearing a stag's cry in the deep autumn mountains into a visual story about hard-working peasants. Hokusai cheekily places the noble deer far in the background, focusing instead on the lively, rhythmic march of the villagers.
Maker / Origin
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is arguably Japan's most famous artist, globally renowned for 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa'. He was a restless genius who changed his name over thirty times and lived in near-poverty, obsessively drawing until his death at age 89.
Condition & Value
The print appears to be in good overall condition with strong colors and visible woodgrain texture in the sky. There is some light toning, minor edge wear, and typical aging of the paper, but it has not been trimmed into the image area.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.